The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-08-10
UUR MINERAL PRODUCTS.
A Report That is Full of Inter-
esting Facts and Figures.
A Notable Increase in the Produc-
ton and Value Of Minerals.

The following condensed statement Of the
production of the more important minerals
of the United States in the calendar year 1885
is issued by the United States Geological Sur
vey in advance of a report:
Notably increased production and also
an increase in value have been the general
characteristics Of the mineral industries dur
ing 1886. The total value of the mineral pro-
ducts increased in round numbers from $428, =
OoO O0U in 1885 to $465 0OO, 600 in 1886. The i'm
portant factor in this gain Of $37, 600, 600 was
the increased production of pig iron lo9 from 4
in 1856, and an appreciation of seventy cents
in the avaerage value per ton, making total
gain of $50, 49,, 1860 in this Industry alone.
The principle iron statistics for 1886 were:
Domestic iron ore consumed, 100000 long
tons, value at the mines, S2S, ,000, 600; i'm
ported iron ore consumed, ], 1,039 433 long tons;
total iron ore consumed, II ,039. .433 tons; pig
iron made, 5,683. 329 long tons, an increase OF
1,63s sO3 tons as compared with 1885; value
at furnace, s95, 49,, ,7Go, or $50, ,4SS,S 1850
more than in 1885 total spot
manufacture, excluding all Implications,
$l42, 500, 900, an increase of 81, ,50O, 900 as
compared with 1885.
The value of gold produced In 1886 was
sa5,0OO,OOO, an increase of s3,1s9,0OO over
The production of silver decreased from
s5l, 100000 in 1885 to $51 ,000, 900 in 1886.
The production of copper in 1886, includ-
ing 4,5OOO0O pounds from imported pyrites,
amounted to Ito, ,687, 061 pounds valued at
SIG, SOB, decrease of 10,2s4, ,526 pounds
age price of copper in 1886 declined to 10A
per pound. The copper sulphate made chiefly
from ores and matte amounted to 13, 400, 600
pounds, valued at $3.50, 900 at four cents per
The production Of lead increased to 136, $50
tons in 1886, valued at $12,667, ,749, at an
average value of $93. 40 per short ton in New
York. In 1885 the production was 129, ,412
tons, valued at SIC, ,469, ,4S1. The production
of white lead in 1886 is estimated at 60,0O0
short tons, worth at 81 cents per pound
$7,5OO,OOO. The total value Of the oxides OF
lead was about 81 ,535, 900.
The zinc production was 42,341 short tons,
valued at S8S per short ton; an increase Of
1853 short. tons and $2l2, $50 in value over
1885. Zinc oxide was also made directly
from ores to the amount Of IL, ,0JO short tons,
valued at 81 10000.
In 1886, the production Of quicksilver in
California was 29,0S1 TASKS, or 2,291, ,547
pounds, valued at 81 ,060, 900. This is de-
crease of 2,O92 TASKS, but the total value
shows an increase Of $S0.S11 due to an
increase in price. ,,
The productions Of all kinds Of coal In 1886,
exclusive of that consumed at the mines,
known as colliery consumption, was l07, ,6o2,
200 short TONS valued at $l47, l13, T55 at the
mines. This may be divided into PennSyl-
yania anthracite 26, 500, AIS short tons or 81,
TG4. .71O long tons, valued at 81 So, ,126; all
other Goals, including bitumnous, brown
coal. Ignite and small lots Of anthracite
produced in Arkansas and Colorado, 10
985, ,T34 short tons, valued at S75,554, ,629
The colliery consumption at the Individual
mines varies from nothing to eight per cent;
of the total product, being greatest at special
Pennsvivania anthracite mines, and lowest al
those b:tuminous mines where the bed Is
nearly horizontal and where no steam power
or ventilating furnaces are employed. The
averages of the different States vary from
three to six per cent, the latter being tht
average in the Pennsylvania anthracite
region.
The total production, including colliery
consumption, was: Pennsylvania anthraclte
34,S53,017 long or SO, 035, ,446 short tons: al
other Goals, 73, 707 ,957 short tons; making tht
total absolute production OF all Goals IN tht
United States liz, 743, ,4U3 short tons, valued
anthracite. ST, 1l9, ,120; bituminous, S1S, ,4S1,
O56: total, $154, 4,6O0 17G. The production
of Pennsylvania anthracite. including
colliery consumption, was 63O,473 shor1
tons in excess of that produced IL
1885, but its value was $553, ,S2S less. The
production of bituminous coal was Lose, 4Oe
short tons greater than in 1885, while its value
was $3,S66,592 less. The production OF al
kinds of coal shows net gain of 1,7s5,SS1
short tons compared with 1885, but loss II
SPOT value of a, ,419, 40.
The total production Of coke In 1856 wa!
6.S35, ,O6S short tons, valued at the ovens al
s1I. $50. ISL. This is the largest production
ever reached in the United States, the nearest
approach to it being in 1883, when 5,464, ,I21
tons were made. This declined in 1SS:
to 4,S73,S05 tons. The year 1885 showed
a gain upon 1884, the total being s.,
1O6696 tons. The production for 1856 shows
gain on that of 1885 Of 1,72S,372 tons, OF
nearly "a per cent. Tne total increase II
value was S. ,923, ,653. The production of !sSt
is ST., ,347 tons, or 25 per cent. greater than
the maximum Of previous years.
The total production OF petroleum was 2o,,
ITO, 115 barrels of forty two gallons each, OF
which the Pennsylvania and New York fields
produced 25, 70S, 600 barrels. The value, at ar
average Of TX cents, was $2O, ,O2S, ,451 The
production showed an increase of 6,27S,O74
barrels over the production of 1885:
No record is kept of the yield OF natura
gas in cubic feet. 1t is estimated that the
amount of coal displaced by gas in 1856 wa:
6,353, 900 tons, valued at $9,S47, $50. In lSSs
the amount of coal displaced by gas was
6. .161. 900 tons. valued at S4.S54.2OO.